i am proud to say northern california is home to the largest burmese population in the nation. we are not competitive around here. san francisco has been a leader in promoting burma and supporting aung san suu kyi. buddhism and its non-violent tradition has been a source of strength for that democracy movement in burma. aung san suu kyi has seen her supporters beaten, tortured and killed. she has never responded with hatred and violence. she has asked only for peaceful dialogue and progress toward democracy. she has always believed the need for democracy for all the people of burma was more important than her personal needs. she made great personal sacrifices in terms of her own family as dianne feinstein pointed out. one admirer described her as a sole pilgrim, one who makes her life a vehicle for an awakening to deeper and greater truth. aung san suu kyi walks in the steps of her beloved father and the giants of history. for her personal sacrifice, her inner strength, her love of burma and its people and for being an example of strength and courage to world, today we are prou